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Agencies Squabble Over Controller's Role in Hudson Crash

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 15, 2009 8:30 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The National Transportation Board's view of the events that caused last weekend's crash over the Hudson River doesn't jibe with the FAA's, the Wall Street Journal reports. The NTSB chronology released yesterday suggests that errors from air traffic controllers—one of whom was one the phone to his girlfriend at the time of the crash—are partly to blame, while the FAA insists it has no reason to believe controller missteps played a role.

The NTSB report issued yesterday suggests the distraction of the phone call could have been a factor in the small plane's pilot failing to receive warnings before he collided with a helicopter. The controller has been suspended. His union, which represents 15,000 FAA controllers, says it is "extremely disappointed" with the NTSB report, which the union says fails to fairly represent the controller's side of the story.

Investigators examine the wreckage of an airplane, right, that sits on a pier next to the the wreckage of a helicopter. Nine people were killed when the two collided over the Hudson River.
Investigators examine the wreckage of an airplane, right, that sits on a pier next to the the wreckage of a helicopter. Nine people were killed when the two collided over the Hudson River.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Passengers prepare to depart from a helipad on the Hudson River known for offering sightseeing flights in New York. The FAA is stepping up efforts to keep air traffic in the area safe.
Passengers prepare to depart from a helipad on the Hudson River known for offering sightseeing flights in New York. The FAA is stepping up efforts to keep air traffic in the area safe.   (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The wreckage of a helicopter that was hit by an airplane and crashed in the Hudson River is repositioned by a crane on a pier in Hoboken, NJ,
The wreckage of a helicopter that was hit by an airplane and crashed in the Hudson River is repositioned by a crane on a pier in Hoboken, NJ,   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, file)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Newser001
Aug 15, 2009 6:08 AM CDT
BTW: the controller facilities' supervisor who was scheduled ' on duty ' was MIA at the time... Lending further credence to suggest this all could have been completely avoided... Appears the Teterboro facility has fatal management issues.
Newser001
Aug 15, 2009 5:56 AM CDT
The saddest part of all of this... It was very much likely avoidable. The tapes indicated the controllers were ' off-task, flirting ', according to official sources. The pilot requested ' flight following ', a service the FAA provides, keeping pilots abreast of adjacent traffic - That is... If controllers are paying attention. The corridor in which the disaster took place in is sometimes referred to as the ' badlands '; too much traffic in too little confined airspace. At the same facility - Teterboro control tower last month, another controller there inadvertently locked himself out the tower for 43 minutes, while no one else was on duty so he could make an unmonitored mobile call. During the lapse - from 11:43 p.m. to 12:25 a.m. - three flights landed safely on their own. The controller was not disciplined.
Nwambe
Aug 15, 2009 4:07 AM CDT
wait wait wait... I'm not allowed to turn on so much as a GameBoy on a plane, for fear it will disrupt the plane's sensitive equipment, but this guy's on duty, with several million dollars worth of electronic equipment around him, chatting on his cellphone? Not only is this ridiculous, it's a miracle no OTHER planes were affected.
US

 
FAA • plane crash • NTSB • Hudson River • air traffic control • air traffic controllers • National Transportation Safety Board • helicopter crash • midair collision

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